Perforating and tubulating machine.



E. P. DWYER PERPORATING ANDTUBULATING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1909. RENEWED JULY 13, 1912.

1,101,168, Patented June 23,191L

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

' JVVENTZM.

ATTORNEY. r

B. F. DWYER. PBRFORATING AND TUBULATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1909. RENEWED JULY 13, 1912. LWLEBSQ Patented June 23,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CT" g, F *MQ fmml a ATTORNEY.

ELMER F. nwynia,

-nNT ornrcn.

OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PERFORATTNG AND TUBULATI NG MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J mm 23, 1914.

Application filed Maroh lt), 1909, Serial No. 484,598. Renewed July 13, 1912. Serial No. 7053,2801

To all who/1t 5/, may concern lie it known that I, Emilia F. Dwrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of iv'lassachusetls, have invented a new and usevt'ul Perforating and 'lubulating Machine, at which the .follonfliugis a specification.

A tter the glass bulb'has been blown, in manufacturing"electric incandescent lamps, a hole is made in the large end, or tip of the bulb and a glass tube of small diameter is fused to the rim of the hole. Through this hole and tube, theair is withdrawn from the bulb after the filament has been placed in the lamp and the stem sealed. When a vacuum has been formed in the lamp in this way, the hole is closed by heating the tube where it is joined to the bulb and drawing it to a. point. The operation of making the hole is called perforating, the operation of allixing the tube is commonly called tubulating, and the tube is called the tubnler. There are machines which are used in making, the hole. I There are also machines for allixing the tubulers, and it is sometimes ailixed by hand.

My invention permits the operations of portoratinglj a lamp bulb and allixing a tubulure thereto to be carried on without interruption, lessens the chance of breakage by not giving the glass time to cool, increases the output, and allows the work to be done with a less degree of skill on the part of the operator than is required in the mode of carrying it out above described.

The invention involves a machine for perforating the bulb' and atlin'ing a tubul-ure thereto without removal of the bulb from the machine, and also embraces various mechanisms and combinations and arrangements of parts for dealing with lamp bulbs which are in themselves new.

features which myinvention embodies will hereinafter be fully described and explained with an air system and producing in it a condition of pressure differentfrom that of the surrounding atmosphere, as this is not in itself the ob ect of my presentinveution.

These combinations of parts and mechanisms and themanynew In .my machine, there is a rotary structure or table on ,which may be placed any con venient number of bulb holders or supports adapted to receive and hold the bulbs properly during the operations involved in attic ng the tnbulures. I have found that three is aconvenient number, although more or fewer bulb holders may be used. There is also a hollo\v upright post which carries a blowpipe frame or yoke to which are aflixed several blowpipe fires, so adjusted that thev can be concentrated on a single point. Gas and air for these fires pass through channels ports and valves in the blowpipe frame. the supply being controlled by afoot triadic. Additional means for operating upon the lamp bulbs are also arranged above the table. such means being partly carried from said hollow post and partly supported in other ways, and in the present instance comprising another fire for locally heating the wall ot't'he lamp bulb for the purpose of perforating it and also means for allixinr;- tubulures to the bulb with the aid of the fires first mentioned. Air is admitted to the bulbholders and bulbs through channels and ports in the table. The bulbholders on the table are so arranged that when the table is turned thebulbs pass from the flame at which thefbulb is perforated to the set of flames at which the tubulure is attached. By operating alever. the. tubulure is contracted to a very small diameter bv stretching, and the tubulurc atlixing ineans or clutch-which holds the tubulure is released when the tubulure has been contracted su'fliciently It-is obvious that my invention may be used with one or more bulbholdcrs attached to the rotarylable. I prefer to use several of these holders, because, by doing so, while the tubulure is being; aliiked to one bulb,

another bulb is being perforated, as will be described hereinafter. Another" advantage in using several bulb holders is, that it enables the operator to do an increased volume of work.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front View, showing the machine with a bulb in each holder. Fig. 2 is a top View of the PIOWPIFG frame, with the right half show- 111g channels amf orts, the upper part of. the frame being removed for this purpose. F g. 3 is a back elevation of the frame, are

right half being sectioned to show the channels and ports. Tl "s. view also shows part of the upright hollow post. Fig. 4 is a detached top view of the clutch which holds the tubulure. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the valve which admits'the supply of gas and air,t-he valvebeing represented as closed.

' Fig. 6 is a detached top view of the rotary table and the base of the' machine.

The rotary table B rests on a specially constructed base C, C having a pivot at its center around which 13 rotates.

- C is a bearing through which the rod passes. 4 i

' T is the table on which the whole machine rests.

T is a socket which holds the supporting rod T". j

D D are upwardly opening bulb holders on the table B and E E are bulbs set in the bulb holders with the r necks inclosed in them and-their ends that are to be operated its wedge-s upon uppermost. Each of these bulb holders consists of an inner core portion cl which is part of B and a movable'metal sleeve D set over d and madeto look by the pin 61" and slot cl, ,vhic'h latter serve as j means for adjusting the length of the holder and hence tne relatwe verticalpositiors of the holder and t? :various means for operating upon the bulbs hereinbefore referred to. A strip of felt a is placed between the inner and outer parts to makethem air-tight andprevent leakage. A bushing D, made of rubber or other soft material, isset in the top of the holder. ,This construction of the bulbholder makes it possible to use any sized bulb, for, by adjusting the sleeve D the bulb can be brought into proper relation to the fires, etc.

b l are channels in the rotary structure B, and b b are ports in B through which air is ad itted to the bulb holders.

0' is a pipe through which the air passes .to b b and E. This pipe 0' is connected with the pipe 2 by a tube which is not shown in the drawings.

c is a pipe through which through I) b to bulb E.

R is an upright hollow post resting on C. R is a collar which carries the vertically movable clutch R. The jaws of the clutch R by means of which the tubulure is held and applied to the bulb move on the pivots r and are held together by the springs r, so that they normally tend to close. R is not fastened to R but is fastened to' the ore 1- by the'key 1 which moves in the slot a at the back of R. :The collar N is fastened to the hollow 0st Rand carries a rod' N- with liaped lower end in the path of the jaws 'of the clutch R".

L is'a lever to which the core 1" is joined by the link 1'.- I j L is the fulcrum, of the lever L.

air passes A A A A' is .a blow-pipe frame which is supported by the post R. This'frame contains the channels a aye/e" a. a 'g g, g

g" and carries the blowpipe fires a" k, which hang downward from the frame.

The valves 8 control the supply of gas and air passing to the fires. -v

H is a valve which controls the pressure of gas and air. This valve is operated by a foot treadle which is not'shown but which I will'call W, to which it is joined by the arm It, the chain V", the lever V pivoted at the upper-end of the. rigid rod T", vand V' is a sprlngeone end of which is fastened to the arm h" of the valve H and the other-end to the post R.

g'is a slot in the valveH to allow the passage of air when the valve H is closed,

as will be described more fully hereinafter.

1 is a pipe through which air is admitted supply. I

3 is a pipe through which gas is admitted to the blowpipe frame from the source of ,supply.

P is a a treadle not shown but which I will call U, herein. l

7 is a supporting rod for the movable rod PL to the blowpipe frame from the source of movable rod and is connected with M is arelatively stationary clutch which 'rngagel the projection m on the structure B when the treadle U isoper ated to depress itagainst the action of the spring S, thus serving as a means for holding the rotary structure'B temporarily arrested.

a k, is a blow-pipe burner carried 0 the rod P.

F is a bracket mounted on the rod P which moves downwardly and engages or fitsover the upper end of the'bulb when the treadle U is operated, this bracket B being thus controlled and actuated in unison with the blow-pipe burner a 70.

K is a pipe through whichgas passes to.

the burner 70,.

' K is a pipethrough which air passes from the source of supply through theconnections 72' 79" to the blowpipe a the flame 'being thus directed downward.

is'a bracket which steadies theblowf pipe burner parts a 70 carried on the rod 1.

The machine is operated in the following I manner: AftQTtl'lQ'blllbS have been placed ,in the bulbholders, the table is turned'by I hand until one of the bulbs is directly under the burner 10,. The foot treadle w is then operated, which causes the table arrester clutch M to engage one of the projections m and thus lock the table B so-that it cannot rotate and simultaneously forces the relatively stationarybulb steadier bracket F down upon the bulb E, and in this may the bulb is centered and stead ed in a de nite position with reference to the bulb holding means D, and other parts. The relatively stationary burner 70, and blowpipe a carried by the movable support 1 are also lowered by the same operation to a position convenientfor heating the bulb. When the downwardly directed flame from is, a has heated the top of the bulb sufliciently, the bulbis perforated by a current of air which passes from the source of supply through the passages and connectirms c b 7) above described and the holding means D to the bulb, the flow of air being controlled by a pinch cock on the pipe leading to the source of supply, or by other suitable means. When the bulb has been perforated the foot treadle U is released and the spring S forces the rod 1 upward, carrying the clutch member 112, the bracket F, and the blowope burner d7, (4,. up far enough to release the projection m and the bulb, and to allow free rotation of the table. While the bulb is being perforated at E, a tubulnre the tubulnre and the wall is placed or inserted sidewise in the clutch the, table is turned, bringing the bulb with the perforation in it to the front of the scribed. At the same time, the operator presses down the lover I; until the end of the tubulnre is close to the hole in the bulb.

'By operating the trcadle ll, air is forced through the pipe 1, the holes in the valve It between 1 and c. (Fig. 5), through the channels a (1., a a" a' and (,t" to the blow pipes a" and at the same time gas is forced through the pipe 3, the hole in II between 3 and r (Fig. 5), the channels g g, g g g and g to the'burncrs 7: by means of which s of the bulb are heated. in my machine, i use a set oi tour fires a," la, all of which hang downward and are so adjusted as'toconcentrate their flames upon the perforation in the bulb and the and ot' thc'tnlnll-m'tc 0, but more or fewer fires may be used. Vhcn the glass has been heated to the lusi point, the lever 11 and the relativelystationaiy tubulnre aiiising means it are lm'vcrcd until the tubulurc comes in contact with the rim of the perforation. Then the flame. are diminished by re leasing the trcadle which allows the spring V to close the valve H. The operator then raises the lever L. This contracts the tubulurc to a very small diameter at the point where it is joined totho bulb. As the lover L is raised, carrying up the clutch it and 'contracting the tubulnre c, the jaws ot. the clutch R are Forced open by means of the wedge-shaped lower end oi the rod N, thus preventing the tubulnre c from be ing contracted too much. lVhen the tut After the bulb has been ptnioratcd,

perforated, and that operation proceeds as already do;

bulure e is released by the wedge N, the bulb and tubulnre are removed and another bulb placed in the holder. By this time, a hole has been blown in the next bulb, which is then brought to the front by turning the table and the work continued as described. By means oi a tube connecting thcpipe 2 with the pipe a current of air is injected into the bulb. The air is admitted to-thc bulb and the inside of the tubuhire while the tubulnre is being contracted to the proper degree and cools oil the tubulnre at the contraction, thus stiti'ening it so that when it is released from the clutch it will stand alone. The air passes from 1' through the channel ,1 in the part H to 2 and thence to c, as described.

By the use of my machine, the operator is kept busy constantly and the machine, by simple operations, is made to bring fresh bulbs and tubulures within the range of the tires.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;-

1.. A machine for operating upon lamp bulbs comprising a rotary strut'tlll'c having upwardly opening bulb holding means adapt.- ed to receive and lllLlOStl the necks of a plurality of bulbs and tosupportlthcm with their ends to be operated upon uppermost, there being means for )l t)(lll(flllg' in the bulbs conditions of pressure ditl'crcnt from that o! the atmosphere, heating means arranged to direct a single pcrtorating[lame downward on the wall bulb is by rotation of said structure brought into position to be operated on by said heatto the bulb comprising mcansgt'or holding the tubulnre movabledowlnvard to it. to the bulb, an l means for heating the tubulnre and the wall ot the bulb where it is to be applied, said perforating heating means and said t'llllllllll. aliixing means being so arranged relative to said. rotary 110 structure and to one another that when one bulb is in position to be operated on by the Former another bulb will be in position to be operated on by the latter.

2. A machine for operating upon lamp 115 luro thereto arranged so that by rotation 125 ct said structure the bulbs may success vely be brought beneath the same and that when one bulb is bemcath the former another will bcbcnrath the latter, and means for tomporarily holding the rotary structure ar- 130 of the bulb when the .ing means, means tor allixing a tubulure apply for proi .held arrested,"

5; erated upon by both heating and tubulating means, said centering means being movable downward and upward to engage the bulb and release it.

In a tubulating inachine, the combina tion of a'rotary table carrying a plurality of bulb holders, with portsand channels and means for allowing air to enter the bulbs. a movable support carrying a blow pipe flame, means for holding the bulbsjin 5 proper position relative to the blowpipe flame, a movable clutch to hold the tubulure and means for ope 'ating and opening the clutch, means for heating the bulb and tubulure, means for affixing the tubulure to the 2 bulb and for contracting the tubulu're', and

means for locking and relez. ing the table.

4. A tubulating machine having an upright hollow support carrying a yoke or blow-pipe frame with Vvalves, channels. and

blow-pipe burners, a rotary table with bnlb holders, a movable support with a blowpipe burner, a bulb steadier, and a'tablearrester, a movable clutch to carry the tubulure, means for perforating the bulb at the preliminary flame from the blow-pipe associated with said niov-able support, means for operating the clutch carrying the tubulure, means for affixing the tubuhire and for contracting the tubului'e, means for releasing the tubulure, and means for cooling the tubului'e while it is beingcontracted-L 5. A bulbholder with a hollow core within a movable sleeve, a bushing sin-mounting the core and sleeve, means fpr'prevent-ing 40 leakage between the core and sleeve, and

means "for regulating the length of the bulbholder. y

(i. The combination with relatively stationary means for opei ting upon a lamp bulb and a rotary structure comprising holding means adapted to receive the lower end of a bulb andsu'pportlghe bulb with its end to be operated upon uppermost, said structure being adapted by its rotationto bring the bulb in the holding means into position to be operated upon by said operating means, of means for temporarily liolding the rotary structure arrested in a'dctinite position and relatively stationary .means for bringing the uppencnd of the bulb to a definite positionwitli reference to the holding means wline the structure is so 7. The combination of holding means 60. adapted to'receive the lower end of a lamp bulb and to support the bulb with its end to be operated upon uppermost, movable means for operatin upon the lamp bulb adapted to be brought downward to operate 65 upon it, and means for engaging the upper end of the bulb to bring it to a definite position with reference to said operatin means and steady it controlled and actuated in unison 'with said operating means so as to come into engagement with the bulb when said operating means approaches it and to recede and'i'elease the bulb when said operating means moves away from it.

8. The combination w th-relatively stationary means for opeifating iipon a lamp bulb and a rotary structure compris ng holding means adapted to receive the lower ends of a plurality of bulbs and to sup port the bulbs with their ends to be operated upon uppermost, said structure being adapted -by its rotation to bring said bulbs successively beneath said operating means, of means for temporarily holdiiig'said structnre arrested with any of said bulbs beneath said operating means, and relatively.stationary means by whose movement said means for holding the rotary structure ar-" rested is controlled adapted to move downward into engagement With the bulb be neath said operating means to bring'the bulb to a definite position with reference to said operating means and steady it and to move upward out of engagement with the bulb so as to allow the rotary structure and the bulb to be revolved. j

9. The, con'ibination of means for holding a lamp bulb and for hoatiiiga tubulure, tulfulnre holding means movable toward and away fromthe bulb to atlix alicated tnbu-lure thereto and to contract the same, and in ans for causing said tubulure holding means to open and release the tubulure when the same has been sufficiently con-- tracted by movement of said tubnlure hold- ,ing meansavay from the bulb.

10. The combination of means for boldinga lamp bulb, means to allixing a tubulure theretocomprisiiig tubulure holding means normally tending to close into which a tubulurr. may be inserted sidewise and from which itvmay in like manner be removed, said tubulni'e holding means'being movable toward and away from the lamp ingmeans is caused to open when moved away from the bulb a certain distance, so

.be removed from the holding means.

11. The combination of incansfor holding a lamp bulb, means for athxinga tubulure thereto comprising tubnlure holding means movable toward and away from the bulb eoi'isistingot jaws wiich automatibulb, and means whereby the tubul'iireliold Cally tend to close and into which a tububy movement of the tubulure lure may be inserted. sidewise and from away from. the bulb sald We which it may in like manner be removed, come between the jaws and f holding means dge means W111 orce them open. 10 and wedge-shaped means arranged in the ELMER- DWYER. 5 path of movement of the jaws so that when Witnesses:

the tubulflre has been applied to the lamp FLORENCE E. CONNOR, bulb and contracted (o the desired extent WILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAM. 

